What is LEGO Universe really about?

In the universe of LEGO, something is causing a maelstrom to rid the universe of its imagination.  It is up to every LEGO good spirit to rid these evil LEGO spirits by using more imagination.  Launching this year for PC only, LEGO will launch an MMO like no other.  I know that sounds cliched but it is a type of MMO that I have never seen before. Reason being is that the only MMO I have ever played was World of Warcraft.

But the idea of a MMO game where there is no leveling caught me off guard.  I didn’t know what to expect from LEGO before the exclusive presentation I was invited to.  The whole point of the MMO is not to “level up” your character but to “level up” your imagination by completing quests and collecting different LEGO bricks, mini-fig parts, and special LEGO accessories.

Create your own universe

With all these collected LEGO bricks you can build custom in game items or you can bring it into your own private property and build your own LEGO land.  Just like what you would do in real life. This was one of the main features of the game that really caught my attention. You buy bricks, build a model and play in it in your home.  With this private property you can build anything you can imagine and invite your friends to play in it.  Build a house, build race cars and a race track, or even build puzzles for your friends to figure out.  Again, the only limit is your imagination which is what the LEGO brand is all about.

More from my meeting with LEGO Universe at CES, screen shots, and a trailer after the break.

[View with PicLens]

LEGO Digital Designer Integration

Don’t have time to or don’t want to go through questing to pimp out your private property? Use the free LEGO Digital Designer to design your own creation and import that into the game.  So, instead of designing something with that tool and buying it, you can just send it into the game and play in it virtually.

Summary

LEGO Universe is a perfect marriage of existing LEGO products.  Just think how a LEGO video game, not tied to any movie or franchise, built with many LEGO sets, add in the LEGO Digital Designer tool, and top it off with LEGO MindStorms scripting.  Now put all that in a bowl, mix it up, and put that online on an MMO scale.

LEGO Universe has me anxiously awaiting a beta invite.  It looks so fun to play for anyone at any age.  If you have an imagination, you can help the LEGO Universe.